Terms Of Endearment

Ok White people let’s get this straight once and for all, you cannot use the N word just because you hear some Black people using it. The Paula Deen debate over her use of the word has brought to the surface some the most stupid ignorant arguments I’ve heard in a long time. Paula and her supporters claim to be confused as they say that they hear Black people using the word all the time. First of all, no you don’t. Contrary to what people may have you believe, in the black community the use of the N word is not as common as ants at a picnic and is a heavily debated argument. I don’t understand why you are so anxious to use the word anyway, are you a rapper or a wannabe thug? And come on, let’s stop playing stupid there is no double standard. You all know full well the offensive history of the word so stop trying to compare calling someone a white boy or a honky as being equally offensive as the N word. As far as the derogatory term cracker I have never used the word. In fact the first time I heard it used was when George Jefferson said it on an episode of The Jeffersons back in the 80s. It’s an archaic term from the early 20th century and frankly never received much use outside of the Deep South. Regardless, none of these terms carry the same weight or historical baggage as the N word.

In a recent interview with Piers Morgan, Rachel Jeantel who provided witness testimony for the prosecution in the Zimmerman trial, unsuccessfully attempted to explain the difference between the terms nigger and nigga. She stated that the term nigger was racist yet nigga was a term that could be used to describe any man, regardless of color…ok. Look, I know she was attempting to make a valid point and no offense intended but this woman has trouble articulating a thought to let you know she needs to use the restroom so why would anyone take her opinion as a statement of fact?  At any rate the poster boy for fat bigoted puffy faced racist white men, Rush Limbaugh, has decided based on Ms. Jeantel’s statement that he has a pass to toss out the word nigga like the first pitch of the World Series and did so repeatedly yesterday on his radio show. He also stated he would hereafter refer to the Chinese man at his Laundromat as his nigga beginning with his next visit and would use the term freely with any man he may encounter going forward…seriously, I would gladly contribute to a fund to have this man just disappear. And don’t get me started on the stereotypical racist implications of a Chinese Laundromat, it really must take some effort to remain that racist.  But you can’t blame him he’s simply fulfilling his job description, which is to exploit racism and white resentment and appeal to his racists listening base. Of course he says nigga on the air but if he’s so eager to as he says, “rightfully use the word” he’s free to walk into the middle of any inner city housing project located in any major city and scream it at the top of his lungs…no guarantee he’ll live to tell about it but that could take care of that disappearance fund.

Now I’ve been known to drop the N bomb now and then but I also understand the term discretion. I don’t walk into an office meeting with a room full of white people and holler to the lone Black in the room, “James my nigga, wassup?” I understand where the word came from and how it was used to demean and degrade Black people and to keep us in our place.  I’m aware of how those who fought and died for civil rights would cringe at how freely the word is used today among Black people. But I also know that not all Black people think alike as some would have you believe and there are differing opinions on the use of the word within the community. In fact attempts by the NAACP to officially bury the word brought about varying views but did nothing to extricate the word and the argument continues. What Rachel Jeantel attempted to convey is that my nigga, f**k you nigga, nigger please or damn, that nigger got game are often terms of endearment and are ultimately different when recited by a Black person. It doesn’t matter whether you think you can use it as a term of endearment as well because quite simply, you can’t. So, yes White, people there are words Black people can use that you can’t but you’ve got the whole white male, birthright entitlement, institutionalized racism thing down to a science…so get over it.

Murder By Numbers

Note to self: Do not walk alone at night anywhere within the state of Florida (under any circumstance). What would you do if you were being followed in the dark, in the rain, by a strange man? What if you decided to run and he continued to pursue? Would you wait for him to attack or attack first? Would you fight for your life, or would you stand there and wait for the unknown? To say that I’m disappointed by the Zimmerman trial verdict doesn’t begin to express my feelings. I’m disappointed, hurt, angry and fearful for the lives of young African-American boys as this verdict has deemed their lives less important than those of any other race. This jury has affirmed that if you are a young black child minding your own business an individual can stalk you on the street and if a confrontation arises, you can be legally murdered without consequence.

Apparently the defense was successful in their efforts to place Trayvon Martin on trial and convict him for his own murder. The one strolling home with a passion for Skittles, Arizona Iced Tea and wearing hoodies, is the one who was convicted. The one who was racially profiled and assumed to be guilty because of walking while Black was convicted. Not the one driving around looking for trouble hoping to create a confrontation in order to use his gun. Not the wannabe cop and self-appointed neighborhood watchman who was told to stay in his vehicle and not pursue. Not the one who was also told to let the police deal with it if in fact there was anything with which to deal. Not the one who after shooting an unarmed child rather than yell for someone to call for an ambulance or dial 911 instead for some strange reason, turned the victim over and spread his arms out. No not him. He was found innocent and blameless.

I’m also disappointed with the way the prosecution tried this case. How is it that a grown man stalked a 17 year old child against the advice of authority then after the child ran he caught up with him and when the child attempted to defend himself, he was shot and killed? I don’t claim to be a legal expert but it pretty much sounds like a slam dunk case to me. How in the hell is Zimmerman allowed to claim self-defense when based on his own assumptions of who Trayvon Martin was, he initiates the confrontation with his decision to ignore the dispatcher and get out of the car with a gun? At the very least it sounds like negligent homicide. It was Zimmerman’s reckless and stupid decisions which led directly to the death of Trayvon Martin. Zimmerman was looking for a confrontation and when he couldn’t handle it he shot and killed an innocent kid. Why was this so difficult to prove? Instead the prosecution allowed the defense to make it all about the fight between Zimmerman and Trayvon and to paint Trayvon as the aggressor.

Still, I really would like to speak with the women from the jury. Regardless of their race I just want to understand how a jury of six mothers could come to such a conclusion. I’d like to know how they would expect their child to react to similar circumstances, how they found Zimmerman completely guiltless and lastly I truly would like to know how they sleep at night.